Russian tennis legend slams tennis media for ‘unnecessary blaming’ of Iga Swiatek as ‘a pill can’t make you a better player’
Former Russian player Nikolay Davydenko has explained why Iga Swiatek's doping case ca be deemed 'ridiculous.'
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Iga Swiatek (Image via X)
Iga Swiatek has been caught in the whirlwind of a serious controversy in sports. The Polish star’s doping case was recently made public by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and was slammed with a one-month suspension.
However, former ATP player Nikolay Davydenko has pointed out that the whole issue is almost ridiculous. Swiatek recently became the second high-profile tennis player this season, after Jannik Sinner, to fail a drug test.
According to the ITIA, Swiatek tested positive for a banned substance, trimetazidine, just a few days after the Cincinnati Open. She was provisionally suspended for one month, which made her miss the entirety of the Asian swing.
The suspension was later lifted so she could compete at the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup. However, trimetazidine was found in the 23-year-old sample after she took melatonin to deal with and sleeping issues weeks before heading to Cincinnati.
After further investigation, the ITIA then found no fault or negligence on her part. During a TV show in Russia, former ATP player Davydenko stated that despite Swiatek taking the banned substance, it was not something that would have made her become a better player.
You go to the pharmacy, you take a pill for the bronchi, and there is salbutamol, which is considered doping. You should always be in contact with a sports doctor, it is so absurd. You will not become a better player thanks to a pill. Tennis is tennis, you will not become world number one thanks to doping. In the past, it was easier to regulate doping, but today the situation has become worse.
Nikolay Davydenko said via Match TV
Swiatek has claimed her innocence in the case and has also made changes to her team. She also parted ways with her long-term coach Tomasz Wiktorowski as well as her public relations manager Paula Wolecka recently. They have been replaced by Wim Fissette and Daria Sulgostowska, respectively.
POLDA director not confident WADA will appeal Iga Swiatek’s doping case
One of the most feared words in sports is doping. It is believed that if one is found guilty, that would be enough to disrupt and potentially end an athlete’s career.
Several players like Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep have watched their careers nosedive because of doping. The same may happen to Iga Swiatek if things go out of control.
The director of the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLDA), Michal Rynkowski, has stated that it was too early to know if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will appeal Swiatek’s doping case.
First of all, I will say that this is a very standard approach to the case from WADA. Because it is definitely too early for the World Anti-Doping Agency to take a position in any way. They will analyze the decision and the case files, after which they will be able to decide whether they want to appeal. The athlete herself could potentially file an appeal, although I doubt it, because Iga probably finally accepted the one-month suspension and sees it as a symbolic punishment.
Michal Rynkowski said (via sports interia)
Swiatek will be hoping that WADA doesn’t appeal her case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports as they did in Jannik Sinner’s case. Sinner’s hearing is scheduled to begin next and that may determine the fate of the World No. 1.
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Victor Okechukwu
(688 Articles Published)